Spin, Bounce, Sink, Boom! Operation Chastise

A surviving Bouncing Bomb

In mid May 1943, the RAF hatched a plan to deal a severe blow to the German industrial center: the Ruhr valley. They intended to destroy several dams in the area, robbing the factories of hydroelectric power and flooding the valley below. However, normal bombing techniques were not going to be enough, as the accuracy needed wasn't possible in the face of heavy German defenses. So, in light of this, a new tactic was created: the bouncing bomb. This bomb was only used for this mission, and the brave flyers of this mission would forever after be known as "the Dambusters".

The concept behind the bouncing bomb is a classic case of applied physics. The bomb is spun in the opposite direction in which the carrying plane is flying, so when the plane drops the bomb on the water the counter spin keeps the bomb above the water while decelerating at the same time. Ideally, when the bomb decelerates enough to the point it sinks, it is situated right next to the dam wall, where it explodes. since water acts as a better energy transference medium than air, the shock wave created deals massive damage to the walls of the dam, which ideally burst as a result.

If the execution of this sounds simple, it is in fact much more complicated. For starters, the bomb weighs five tons, and at this time only the largest and heaviest bombers could handle a bomb load like that, not including the weight of the special bomb mount. Furthermore, in order to get the bomb into position and past the torpedo nets in place in front of the dam wall, the bomb has to be dropped in a very narrow target area, at low altitude, all the while avoiding heavy antiaircraft fire on the approach. Needless to say, this mission demanded the most out of these brave men.

Aftermath of the Eder Dam

Aftermath of the Mohne Dam

On the night of May 16/17, 1943, nineteen modified Avro Lancaster heavy bombers took off from England and started heading toward their objectives. By the time the formations reached the Dutch coast, the flyers had suffered some casualties. Some of the planes were shot down, others released their bombs too early and got caught in the blast of their own bomb. Despite this, successful attacks were made on the Mohne Dam and the Eder Dam, while the Sorpe Dam was damaged without breaching. Only nine out of nineteen planes made it back to England.

In the end, the attacks on the dams of the Ruhr valley caused massive damage both in the loss of hydroelectric power as well as the massive flood damage caused in the valley villages. No mission before or since has ever come close to needing this kind of bravery and guts. In testament to the flyer's courage and sacrifice, a memorial to both the dead and surviving pilots is in Lincolnshire, England. Until next time, take care, and thanks for reading.